Lamp changer



July 5, 1966 P. e. SALERNO 3,259,785

LAMP CHANGER Filed Dec. 2, 1963 I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. PAUL AL NO B [hm ATTORN EY y 5, 1966 P. G. SALERNO 3,259,785

LAMP CHANGER Filed Dec. 2, 1963 3 s -51 5 PAUL G. SALERNO BY' ft" Mum fl-uu ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,259,785 LAMP CHANGER Paul G. Salerno, Glenview, lll., assignor to Vapor Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,473 10 Claims. (Cl. 314-1) This invention relates in general to a lamp changer, and more particularly to a lamp changer for buoys capable of automatically replacing a burned outlamp with a new lamp, although other uses and purposes may be apparent to one skilled in the art.

The lamp changer of the present invention includes a turret rotatably mounted on a frame and having circumferentially spaced lamp sockets, each of which is adapted to receive a lamp. At one preselected position of the turret, a lamp is placed into the proper focal plane position for illuminating a buoy having the lamp changer. Means is provided to detect whether the lamp in the turret socket at the preselected position is burned out or if no lamp is at all mounted in that socket. Thereupon, the turret is causedv to rotate to bring a good lamp into the preselected position thereby avoiding the malfunctioning of the lighted buoy.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved lamp changer for a buoy.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of a lamp changer for a buoy having a minimum number of parts and which is therefore economical to manufacture, while also having high reliability and requiring less frequent maintenance.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a lamp changer that may be used wherever there is a need for a continuous illuminating source, and which operates automatically to place a new lamp into illuminating position upon detection of the absence of a lamp or a burned out lamp.

A further object of this invention is to provide a lamp changer having means for detecting the absence or failure of an incandescent lamp in a flashing circuit, and having means for automatically placing a new lamp into the flashing circuit.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the lamp changer according to the invention, and illustrating the cover panel removed from the housing enclosing some of the operating parts of the mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the lamp changer, showing some parts broken away and others in section;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View taken through the lamp changer and substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a lamp employed in the lamp changer of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan View of the lamp of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic electrical diagram of the lamp out circuit employed in the lamp changer of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the lamp changer includes generally a housing and frame 10 rotatably supporting a lamp turret 11. The housing and frame 10 is preferably constructed of an anti-corrosive material and particularly of metal, while the lamp turret 11 is preferably constructed 3,259,785 Patented July 5, 1966 ice of an insulating material such as a plastic or the like. While the lamp changer of the present invention is particularly useful in connection with buoys, it should be appreciated that it could be used anywhere there is a need for automatically changing lamps used for illumination purposes.

The housing and frame 10 includes a box-like section 12 having an upper wall 13, opposed side walls 14 and 15, a bottom wall 16, and a rear wall 17 closing off one side of the section. The side of the section 12 opposite the rear wall 17 is open to enable access thereinto and may be selectively closed by a cover 18. Integrally connected with the box-like section is a frame section 19 that includes a laterally extending bar 20 and an upstanding arm 21 that extends substantially parallel to the rear wall 17 and in spaced relation therefrom.

The lamp turret 11 is hexagonally shaped and includes a sleeve portion 22 having six circumferentially connected and arranged faces 23, each of which includes a lamp socket 24. Each lamp socket is adapted to receive a lamp similar to that illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 as indicated by the numeral 25. It should be appreciated that any number of lamps may be mounted on the lamp turret 11, and that lamps of a type other than that indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be employed. The lamp 25 includes a glass envelope 26 enclosing a filament that is connected on one side to a contact plate 27 and on the other side to a contact button 28. In the present embodiment, the contact button 28 serves as the ground contact, while the flange contact 27 serves as a hot contact.

Each socket 24 includes an opening through a face 23 of the lamp turret for receiving the base of the lamp, a plurality of pins 29 for engaging in bayonet slots 30 of the lamp flange 27, and a ground contact finger 31. Thus the lamps 25 may be removed and inserted with a twisting action relative to the sockets 24.

The lamp turret 11 further includes a radially extending web portion 32 that integrally connects the sleeve portion 23 and a hub portion 33, the latter of which etxends axially of the turret and is in turn secured to and supported on a metal shaft 34. One end of the hub 33 is bearingly received in a bore 35 formed in the rear wall 17 of the housing 10, and this hub also serves to support the shaft 34 at one end. A setscrew 36 secures the hub 33 of the lamp turret 11 against relative rotation with the shaft 34. Thus, the shaft 34 and the lamp turret 11 turn together.

The end of the shaft 34 remote from the rear wall 17 is bearingly supported in a bore 37 of the upstanding arm 21.

Each of the fingers 31 is grounded to the frame and housing 10 by being connected to an annular ring portion 38 that is secured to the end of the hub 33 adjacent to the upstanding arm 21. The ring portion 38 is electrically connected to a bracket 39 that has a portion 40 surrounding the shaft 34 and received in a recessed end 33a of the hub 33. A coil spring 41 encircles the shaft 34 and is bottomed at one end against the bracket portion 40 and at the other end against a washer 42 having fingers 43 engaging the upstanding arm 21. Thus, electrical ground is made between the housing and frame 10 and the ground contact 28 of each lamp 25. A retaining ring 44 engage in a slot in a shaft 34 adjacent the inner side of the arm 21 to prevent lateral movement of the shaft 34 and the lamp turret 11 toward the upstanding arm 21.

While all of the lamps 25 are always connected to ground, only the lamp in the focal plane position, and in this instance, the upstanding position of lamp 25A shown in FIG. 1 has its hot contact connected to an illuminating voltage source. This is accomplished by connecting one of the lamp socket pin 29 through a commutator to the illuminating voltage source. More particularly, one

pin 29 of each lamp socket 24 is connected to a wire 45 that is in turn connected to a cont-act button 46 mounted in the end face of the lamp turret hub 33 that is received within the housing 10. A contact arm 47 is mounted on the bracket 48 within the housing and adapted to engage the contact button 46 that is connected to the lamp socket arranged in the focal plane position such as the lamp 25A. The bracket 48 is in turn connected to a wire 49 that connects to a terminal 50 on the cover 18. The terminal 50 is in turn connected to a flasher circuit which provides intermittent power to the lamp in focal plane position. The flasher circuit includes a flasher 51 and a battery 52 as shown in FIG. 7.

The lamp turret 11 is rotated when a lamp out circuit mounted in the casing 53 and illustrated in FIG. 7 detects a burned out or missing lamp in the socket 24 that is arranged in the focal plane position, and thereby causes operation of an electromagnet 54 that releases a cam and ratchet member 55 carried on the shaft 34 to permit operation of a dashpot 56.

The dashpot 56 includes a piston 57 slidable in a cylinder 58 and continually urged toward one end of the cylinder by means of a coil spring 59. The dashpot 56 is secured to the housing and frame 10 and projects primarily within the housing as shown particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2. A flexible seal 60 is carried on the piston 57 to seal it with the side walls of the cylinder, and an air orifice 61 is provided through the piston. One end of the spring 59 bottoms on the piston 57, and the other end bottoms on a retainer plate 62 held Within the cylinder 58. A piston rod 63 is attached to the piston 57 and in turn to a cable 64 that has its other end secured to the cam portion 65 of the cam and ratchet member 55. Thus the cable 64 wraps around the cam portion 65.

The cam and ratchet member 55 also includes a lug 66 at one end engaging in a socket 67 of the lamp turret hub 33 so that the lamp turret and cam and ratchet member rotate together with the shaft 34. The cam and ratchet member also includes a ratchet 68 that coacts with a pawl or clapper 69 of the electromagnet 54.

The electromagnet 54 includes a frame 70 and a coil 71 having a core 72 therein. The clapper or pawl 69 is pivotally mounted at 73 to the frame 70 and is attracted to the core 72 against the action of a spring 74 upon energization of the electromagnet. The spring 74 returns the pawl 63 to engaging position with the ratchet upon deenergization of the electromagnet. The upper surface 75 of the electromagnet core 72 is inclined relative to the axis of the core so that the under surface of the pawl 69 is essentially parallel thereto thereby improving the pullin power of the electromagnet. Upon energization of the electromagnet, the pawl 69 is pulled clear from the ratchet 68 to permit the dashpot 56 to rotate the lamp turret 11.

When initially servicing the lamp changer, by replacing burned out bulbs and setting it so that all of the bulbs may be used in sequence, it is necessary to rotate the lamp turret by means of the handle 76 attached to the end of the shaft 34 outside of the arm 21. A setscrew 77 secures the handle 76 against relative rotation with the shaft 34 and also serves as a stop against the pin 78 to indicate to the operator that the dashpot 56 is in its fully energized position. Thus the nature of the spring 59 and the dashpot 56 is such that it produces more force on the cable when the spring is compressed and the cord is wrapped or wound about the cam portion 65 of the cam and ratchet member 55. This operation stores the energy for the next sequence of lamp changing. The cam portion 65 i not circular but eccentric so that at'successive periods in the lamp changing cycle, the radius on which the cable 64 acts increases to compensate for the decreased force on the cable. Therefore, a constant torque is produced on the shaft 34 and lamp turret 11 throughout the entire lamp changing cycle. Therefore, torque on the shaft 34 is normally provided by the dashpot 56, but

4 prevented by the electromagnet 54 upon energization thereof.

The lamp out circuit which detects the absence of a lamp in a socket or a burned out lamp is shown in FIG. 7, and as already mentioned is mounted in the casing 53 carried by the housing and frame 10. This circuit includes a triggering transistor 79, and transistors 80 and 81. The transistors 80 and 81 are interconnected with a resistor 82 to define an inversion and amplification circuit that provides high current gain for operation of the coil 71 of the electromagnet 54. A diode 83 is connected in parallel across the electromagnet coil 71 to protect the transistors against the kickback voltage generated during the deenergization of the coil 71. Essentially the diode 83 dissipates the energy of the coil generated during deenergiza-tion thereof.

The base of the transistor 79 is connected to a diode 84 that is in turn connected in series to the lamp 25 in focal plane position. The collector of the transistor 79 is connected in series through a resistor 85 to the base of the transistor 80. A resistor 86 is interconnected between the base of the transistor 80 and the positive side of the lamp out circuit voltage emanating from the battery 87. The emitter of the transistor 79 is connected to the positive side of the lamp out circuit voltage through a resistor 88 and to ground through a zener diode 89. And a resistor 90 is connected between the positive side of the battery 87 and the base of the transistor 79. A capacitor 91 is connected between the diode 84 and the zener diode 89.

The lamp out circuit operation is such that when the lamp 25 is energized, the capacitor 91 will charge toward the voltage of battery 87 with a time constant of the resistor 90 and capacitor 91, but before the voltage on the capacitor 91 can rise above the zener voltage across the zener diode 89 plus the base emitter voltage across the transistor 79, the lamp 25 turns off due to the flasher circuit, and the capacitor 91 will then discharge through the diode 84 and the lamp 25. However, if the lamp 25 is absent or burned out, the capacitor 91 will be prevented from discharging through the'lamp to ground and will continue to charge toward the voltage of the battery 87. When the voltage across the capacitor 91 rises above the voltage across the zener diode 89 and the base emitter voltage of the transistor 79, the transistor 79 will be energized or triggered and it will then in turn trigger the transistors 80 and 81 to energize the electromagnet coil 71. With the electromagnet 54 in energized condition, the dashpot 56 and spring 59 applies a torque to the shaft 34 to slowly rotate the shaft and bring a new lamp into focal plane position. The commutator including the contact arm 47 and the contacts 46 allows the new lamp to light and when the new lamp is connected to the diode 84, the capacitor 91 will discharge through the lamp to deenergize the transistors and the electromagnet coil 71 so that the pawl 69 again goes into position to engage the ratchet 68 and stop rotation of the shaft 34 and the lamp turret 11. Again when the lamp out circuit detects the lamp in focal plane position as being burned out, it will repeat the above sequence and energize the electromagnet 54 to permit a new lamp to be brought into burning position.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, but it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, meaus for continually applying a directional torque to said turret, dashpot means for causing the turret to rotate at a relatively slow speed, blocking means for selectively preventing movement of said turret in the direction of said torque, and means for actuating said blocking means to permit rotation of said turret by said directional torque to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

2. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, .a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, means for applying a torque to said turret to rotate succesive lamp sockets to said preselected position, said torque applying means including a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret, and means for actuating said torque applying means in response to said detecting means for causing rotation of said turret to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

3. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a

turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of cirsocket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, means for applying a torque to said turret to rotate successive lamp sockets to said preselected position, said torque applying means including a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret, blocking means for selectively preventing movement of said turret in the direction of said torque, said blocking means including a ratchet connected to said turret and a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame, and means for actuating said pawl to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

4. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, means for applying a torque to said turret to rotate successive lamp sockets to said preselected position, said torque applying means including a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret, blocking means for selectively preventing movement of said turret in the direction of said torque, said blocking means including a ratchet connected to said turret and a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame, an electromagnet for operating said pawl, and means for energizing said electromagnet to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

5. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, means for applying a torque to said turret to rotate successive lamp sockets to said preselected position, said torque applying means including a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret, blocking means for selectively preventing movement of said turret in the direction of said torque, said blocking means including a ratchet connected to said turret and a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame, an electromagnet for operating said pawl, and an electrical circuit coacting with said detecting means for energizing said electromagnet to 6 permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

'6. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, means for detecting a defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, said detecting means including an electronic circuit, a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret for applying a continuous torque thereto for rotating same, a ratchet connected to said turret, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and coacting with said ratchet to prevent rotation of said turret in the direction of the torque, means for actuating said pawl, and means coacting with said detecting means for triggering said pawl actuating means to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

7. An automatic lamp changer compirsing a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, an electronic circuit for detecting a missing or defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret for applying a continuous torque thereto for rotating same, a ratchet connected to said turret, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and coacting with said ratchet to prevent rotation of said turret in the direction of the torque, an electromagnet for moving said pawl out of the path of said ratchet, and means coacting with said detecting circuit for triggering said electromagnet to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

8. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, an electronic circuit for detecting a missing or defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, a spring actuated dashpot drivingly connected to said turret for applying a continuous torque thereto for rotating same, a ratchet connected to said turret, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and coacting with said ratchet to prevent rotation of said turret in the direction of the torque, an electromagnet for moving said pawl out of the path of said ratchet, and means responsive to said detecting circuit for energizing said electromagnet to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot to bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

9. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumferentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, an electronic circuit for detecting a missing or defective lamp in the lamp socket another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

10. An automatic lamp changer comprising a frame, a turret rotatably mounted in the frame, a plurality of circumterentially spaced lamp sockets in said turret, each socket adapted to receive a lamp, means for applying an intermittent illuminating voltage to one lamp socket arranged in a preselected position, an electronic circuit for detecting a missing or defective lamp in the lamp socket arranged in said preselected position, means drivingly connected to said turret for applying a continuous and constant torque thereto, dashpot means for causing the turret to rotate at a very slow speed, a ratchet connected to said turret, a pawl pivotally mounted on said frame and coacting with said ratchet to prevent rotation of said turret in the direction of the torque, an electromagnet for moving said pawl out of the path of said ratchet, and means responsive to said detecting circuit for energizing said electromagnet to permit rotation of said turret by said dashpot ot bring another socket having a good lamp to said preselected position.

References Cited by the Examiner RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH V. TRUHE, Examiner. 

1. AN AUTOMATIC LAMP CHANGER COMPRISING A FRAME, A TURRET ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE FRAME, A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED LAMP SOCKETS IN SAID TURRET, EACH SOCKET ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LAMP, MEANS FOR APPLYING AN INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATING VOLTAGE TO ONE LAMP SOCKET ARRANGED IN A PRESELECTED POSITION, MEANS FOR DETECTING A DEFECTIVE LAMP IN THE LAMP SOCKET ARRANGED IN SAID PRESELECTED POSITION, MEANS FOR CONTINUALLY APPLYING A DIRECTIONAL TORQUE TO SAID TURRET, DASHPOT MEANS FOR CAUSING THE TURRET TO ROTATE AT A RELATIVELY SLOW SPEED, BLOCKING MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID TURRET IN THE DIRECTION OF SAID TORQUE, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID BLOCKING MEANS TO PERMIT ROTATION OF SAID TURRET BY SAID DIRECTIONAL TORQUE TO BRING ANOTHER SOCKET HAVING A GOOD LAMP TO SAID PRESELECTED POSITION. 